A/N: Yes, I live after all these months, and once again, a short chap.

I apologize, life…. Has been rough. I've been sitting on this chapter for a few months wanting to give all of you more, but soon that became an excuse not to post. So here it is.

I would like to thank everyone who has still read and followed me through this time. I get every notification and it makes my heart swell. I'll try to make sure this doesn't happen again, but adulting has a way of saying fuck you.

Welp, without further adieu, here's the chapter. Please enjoy!

Guilty Rose Chapter 48

"Hmmm…. I see no issue in going along with what the girls have planned, in fact I even have the perfect mission already."

Ozpin said after taking a sip of coffee.

"There's a grimm nest that has gotten just too large for Signal to handle and they've asked me to dispatch a team to cull it."

Both Summer and raven let out a sigh of relief and disappointment. They were in fact happy that a mission to patch was available, but they still couldn't help but worry.

Ozpin saw this and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem with that?"

The women looked at each other for a moment, holding a silent conversation. This went on for a few seconds before they turned back to Ozpin.

"There's nothing wrong with the mission, it's actually great that there is one so readily available."

Ozpin nodded at Summer, but remained unconvinced.

"Look, it's really not the mission, it's Tai."

"Ah, Tai, what seems to be the issue there, I thought you sorted your differences."

"We did… for the most part. He was just so volatile when I sent him back the signed divorce papers. I actually had to shut off my scroll for a few days."

"He was violent with you? I thought he got that under control during his time as a student here?"

"He did, but it's still triggered at times."

Ozpin nodded slowly and took a sip of his coffee again.

"Are you worried enough that I should cancel these arrangements. As much as I'd like to go along with these plans, I would rather not risk Rose's progress."

Raven and Summer looked at each other again.

"This should be fine, we are worried, but not about Tai going after Rose. He has a temper, but he'd never let it hurt either of the girls."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very well then, the mission will remain yours. But I am going to call in Qrow to make sure Tai has control of his temper."

Both women nodded.

"That's probably for the best, if you can get him away from Vernal."

Ozpin smiled, having heard about the new couple.

"Then everything is settled."

Raven nodded her confirmation but Summer stepped up.

"About the mission. You said it was a nest that was getting out of hand? How is that possible? I know for a fact that Signal keeps that nest contained."

Ozpin sighed and turned to look out his window.

"Unfortunately, I don't know why the nest has grown so large. I have already seen the detailed report and it doesn't appear that she is involved. But there also wasn't definitive proof that she isn't. I just can't be sure."

Both women stiffened at this.

"Then are you sure it's a good idea to send students, let alone Rose?"

Ozpin took another sip.

"I won't lie to you. I am sending students only because Rose is with them. You and her are some of the last silver eyed warriors left in the world, and as much as I'd like for you two to be hidden from her. That is not in your nature. You know what I refer to."

Summer let out a long sigh and nodded.

"All silver eyed warriors are compelled to protect, we may never sit idly by while innocents are in danger."

Ozpin didn't respond for a minute.

"Even through everything she endured in her years of captivity, she never truly lost her nature. I hope that this mission might fulfill her nature enough to heal her further. But I also know that if Salem is involved with this and one of her agents show up."

"The three of us can handle them. It's practical, but I don't like putting Rose at risk."

Ozpin's jaw worked for a moment as he searched for the words.

"She is already at risk."

"What?"

"Salem already knows about Rose and has for quite some time."

Summer absorbed the information silently for a moment.

"You want me to train her now, don't you?"

There was more venom in those words than intended, but Ozpin seemed unfazed.

"I do not, she needs more time to heal. However, she needs to know the truth, not everything just yet. But enough so she knows what to look out for and how to protect herself."

Summer couldn't help but agree with her former headmaster.

"Okay."

….

Rose sat on her favorite bench in Beacon's courtyard. Her mothers had informed her of what Ozpin did to help her go to Patch. Which didn't make her feel nearly as happy as it should have. She was genuinely relieved that it was so easy to arrange, but now she was anxious about how this would go.

So she just sat there and tried to relax. Though before she got too relaxed, she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Weiss told me you'd be here. Everything okay?"

Rose glance over at Cinder and smiled softly before patting the bench beside her.

"It's fine, I'm just overthinking something."

Cinder nodded and took the offered spot. Then Rose curled into her side.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Rose nodded softly.

"Mhmm, just wanted to relax and stop thinking."

Cinder raised an amused eyebrow before wrapping her arm around the small faunus.

"Want me to get Weiss? I know you stop thinking when you kiss her."

Rose didn't respond right away, just snuggled in deeper to her side much to Cinder's surprise.

"This is fine, besides, I wanted to ask what your team is doing for a mission?"

"Nothing glamorous, we're staying here and taking some special classes. Or that's what Ozpin said."

"So you guys are going to be staying here, that's kinda sad, I wish you could com to Patch with my team."

Cinder shrugged nonchalantly.

"While that would be nice, I think it's better this way."

Rose rubbed her face against Cinder's flank without responding. After a few minutes of silence, Rose spoke again.

"I'm scared Cin. What if he thinks I'm just a murderer?"

Cinder was taken back by the sudden comment, but recovered quickly.

"Then he's shortsighted and wrong. And we show him that you are so much more."

"Really?"

"Yes. You are an amazing huntress and leader already. You've convinced several lifelong criminals to reform. You've pretty much started a world movement to stop the terrorism of the White Fang. And You've stolen the heart of how many here at Beacon?"

Rose smiled again, genuinely feeling better now.

"Thank you… I still wish you could come though."

Cinder sighed and shook her head fondly.

"Maybe on the weekend if things go well."

Rose sighed and closed her eyes.

"Thank you."

….

Qrow rubbed his temple as he sat at the table nursing his coffee. He had just set down his scroll after a call from Ozpin. Vernal walked in at this point, and immediately got concerned.

"What's wrong baby?"

Qrow took a long draft of his coffee to focus his mind. When he finished, he let out a long sigh.

"Oz called, I need to head back to Patch."

"Already? I thought you had more time before you went back to work?"

She mentally tallied his medical leave and it should have had another month for the extent of his

"It's not work. He needs me for a personal favor."

"Oh… Is the favor that bad?"

"I got to make sure Tai has his act cleaned up enough so my niece can meet him."

Vernal grimaced at that, she knew how notorious Tai's temper was. She walked up and sat in his lap and stroked his stubbly cheek.

"Be honest, how worried do we need to be?"

"Tai won't do a thing to Rose, he has a temper, but she's still his daughter."

"And when he hears she isn't his daughter?"

"He still won't raise a hand to her… but Rae and Sum on the other hand, might be free game."

"That doesn't make me feel better. I know they can handle themselves."

"Oh, I'm not even worried about them. I'm worried how Rose will react if Tai goes after them."

Vernal's eyes widened. She knew the stories, and if Tai did go after Raven or Summer it wouldn't end well.

"Oh."

Qrow just nodded sadly.

"Yeah. I need to go soon."

"I'm coming with."

Qrow gave her a hard glare at that her.

"Vernal, no, I got this."

Vernal stood her ground adamantly.

"Again, I don't doubt that. Doesn't mean I'm letting you go home. Besides, I want to see Rose too."

Qrow stared at her for a few seconds before sighing in defeat. He could win any of their spars easily, but verbal battles. Well, he knew better than to even try anymore.

"Okay, not gonna argue anymore."

Vernal patted his cheek with a victorious grin.

"Smart boy."

Qrow snorted fondly and gave her a kiss.

"Thanks. We leave in 3 days."

….

Adam stood before the bulk of his last loyal followers. They only numbered in the few hundreds now. These faunus would all give their lives for the cause, and would never betray it like the rest have.

He had gathered them in an abandoned village in

"Brothers and sisters, I stand before you tonight to tell you that despite all the traitors to our kind, we will make the humans fall to their knees. We will punish them for every faunus that has suffered at their hands. We will make faunus the rulers of Remnant."

The cheers reverberated through the air. Adam grinned viciously.

"This year, the Vytal festival will mark Faunus dominance over Remnant."

The cheers rang out even louder, and kept going even as Adam left the stage. A new mouse faunus grunt ran up to him with a clipboard.

"Sir, everything that's arrived from Atlas."

Adam took the offered documents and scanned them. His smile grew as he got further down the page.

"And this isn't even everything. This will work. This will work gloriously."

He began cackling as he continued walking back to his quarters after tossing the clipboard back to the grunt.

"With this, I'll get my hands on that bitch, and more."

A/N: And that's a wrap. I apologize again for how short it is, but it's a chapter.

Normally I'd do a recap time, but I don't feel like there is any need for explanation. So I'll just let you guys ask if you need anything clarified.

Well, please follow, fav, and review!